Tornado Basketball scores home win over Union, 106-58

BRISTOL, Tenn. - The King College men's basketball team returned home and picked up a 106-58 win over Union (Ky.) College Monday in a game where all 12 Tornado players scored at least three points.

King improved to 8-11 on the season and stretched a winning streak over Union to eight games. The Tornado also pushed a winning streak inside the Student Center to three games. The last time King played a home contest was Dec. 11 when the Tornado beat Emory & Henry (Va.) College.

Mark Dockery (Nickelsville, Va.) paced King with 26 points, going 10-for-18 from the field with six made three pointers. It was the sixth time this season Dockery had at least six made long-range shots in a game.

Clarence Smith (Nashville, Tenn.) was close to a double-double with 16 points and eight rebounds. Five of his rebounds were on the offensive side.

Brian Hewitt (Lexington, Ky.) was 4-for-6 from behind the arc en route to 14 points. He also had a game-best five assists.

Andrew Cleland (Albany, Ga.) posted a season high with eight points along with five rebounds.

When it came to rebounds, King held a firm grip winning the battle 45-19. The 19 rebounds ties the fewest by a King opponent this season. The Tornado used 21 offensive rebounds for 24 second-chance points. Union had three offensive rebounds and no points off the second chances. Part of the second chance points helped King to a 44-16 scoring advantage in the paint.

King started on a 15-5 run in the opening 3:40 and the Tornado never looked back. Union trimmed into the lead with three straight points, but eventually a lay up from Eddie Piccinini (Orlando, Fla.) put King up 20-10 and went from there. Two Michael Fortune (Beckley, W.Va.) free throws with 4:46 left in the half gave King a 47-27 lead, the first time the margin was 20. King closed the half on a 11-4 run to take a 58-31 lead to the locker room.

The first half output of 58 points are the most for King in a half this season, one more than the team had in the second half of the Milligan (Tenn.) College. The highest first half scoring output this season was a 56 point performance against Emory & Henry. The team scored more in the first half than in two full games this season, at No. 5 Augusta State (Ga.) University (52) and against Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) University (57).

Union was within 25 points, 60-35, 90 seconds into the second, but King scored the next 12 points in a four-minute span.

The 106 points are the second most this season, four behind the total at Milligan on Nov. 29.

The last time King won by at least 45 points was on Feb. 24, 2010, when the Tornado defeated Hiwassee (Tenn.) 127-62. The previous season high in margin of victory was 30, 94-64, over Emory & Henry.

King finished the game 42-for-76 (55.3 percent). The 42 made baskets are two more than the team had at Milligan, the previous season best mark for field goals. Behind the three point line King went 13-for-28 (46.4 percent).

The Tornado was just one assist off tying the most in a game this season with 29.

Union went 25-for-51 (49.0 percent) with four of the baskets coming from behind the arc.

King forced 22 turnovers which led to 31 points.

For the sixth time this season the King defense held an opponent to under 65 points.